Maiduguri, Feb. 15, 2024: Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno on Wednesday summoned an emergency meeting with representatives of marketers in Borno over raising costs of food and other items.
Marketers who spoke at the meeting, explained to the governor how they too were battling to be in business due to the development worsened by removal of fuel subsidy and daily raise in Dollar exchange rate.
Abba Ibrahim, a dealer in sugar and flour, said just before the meeting there was a N5,000 increase in the price of a bag of flour.
“Whatever you sell, if you place a fresh order for the commodity there will be a new increase in price from the company.
“Many vehicles were not even interested in coming to Maiduguri, another issue that further compounded the situation, ” Ibrahim said.
Zulum, who lamented over the development, urged them to do business with the fear of God, adding that there would be more engagement with them to see how all stakeholders would make some sacrifice to address the situation.
The governor also directed the state Ministry of Religious Affairs to mobilize clerics on the need to set up a Zakat Commission that would mobilize support from well to do persons for the needy in the society.
Highlight of the occasion is preaching by an Islamic cleric, Shiekh Modu Mustafa on the teachings of Islam regarding curse on marketers creating artificial hardship through hoarding or other nefarious activities.
He also spoke of blessings on marketers that operate with fear of God.
Some residents of Maiduguri who reacted over the meeting,lauded the governor for the initiative.
They called for creation of an organization by the state government to ensure that people get the right quantity of goods they paid for.
According to them, in many cases the 50kg rice, sugar and other goods sold in many places are not up to the quantity expected.
“There are cases of some traders reducing the quantity of products like rice, sugar, flour, semolina and others being sold in the market.
“I once bought a bag of 50kg rice but later discovered it was 45kg,” Salisu Ibrahim said.
